Collagen mixture and method of making the same

ABSTRACT

A collagen mixture having a portion of unhydrolyzed eggshell membrane collagen and Avian collagen.

CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a division of U.S. Ser. No. 13/197,318 filed Aug. 3,2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to creating a collagen mixture and morespecifically, without limitation, creating a collagen mixture ofunhydrolyzed eggshell membrane with LOS with Avian collagen.

Methods for producing collagen are known in the art. Such collagen isused for many things such as the healing of wounds, the production ofskin creams and shampoo, the treatment of osteoarthritis andosteoporosis, and as an additive for human and pet food. While useful,the process is expensive, complicated, involving many steps, andrequires harsh chemicals and inorganics which can damage uniqueproperties. Accordingly, a method and mixture is needed in the art thataddresses these deficiencies.

An objective of the present invention is to combine Type I, V, and Xcollagen with Type II collagen.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a method ofmaking unhydrolyzed eggshell membrane collagen with LOS that involvesfewer steps and is unde-natured.

A still further objective of the present invention is to provide amethod of producing Avian collagen Type II with a greater molecularweight.

These and other objectives will be apparent to one of ordinary skill inthe art based upon the following written description, drawings, andclaims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A collagen mixture includes a portion of unhydrolyzed eggshell membranecollagen and a portion of Avian collagen. The method of making theeggshell membrane collagen includes separating a membrane from aneggshell, drying the membrane, and pulverizing the membrane into apowder. The method of making the Avian collagen includes adding anenzyme mixture to a thawed Avian cartilage to break the cartilage downinto liquid form, heating the liquid cartilage to form a layer of liquiddigest, raising the pH level of the liquid digest, heating the raised pHlevel liquid digest to form a partial solid content, and spray dryingthe partial solid content.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a method for making unhydrolyzed eggshellmembrane collagen;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the environment for making unhydrolyzedeggshell membrane collagen;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram for a method of making a collagen mixture; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the environment for making a collagenmixture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the Figures, the process of making unhydrolyzed eggshellmembrane collagen containing Type I, V, and X collagen and lysosyme,ovatransferin, and sialic acid (LOS) begins at step 100 by obtainingsanitized cracked eggshells 10. The cracked eggshells 10 are placed on asifter 12 at step 110 where the membrane 14 of the eggshell 10 isseparated from the shell 10. The sifter 12 is of any type and preferablyincludes a fine mesh through which the shell 10 falls while the membrane14 is transported to the end of the sifter 12.

Once separated, the membrane 14 is placed in a hot dryer 16 to dry themembrane and kill bacteria at step 120. While the dryer 16 is of anytype, a motion dryer is preferred to facilitate faster drying. Oncedried, the membrane 14, which is in flake form, is pulverized into apowder at step 130. Once in powder form, the membrane is packagedpreferably in a fiber drum or bag for further use and/or processing.

The process of making the Avian collagen with LOS begins by obtainingAvian cartilage 18, typically in frozen form at step 200. At step 210,the frozen cartilage 18 is thawed by placing the cartilage in a tank 20containing hot water. Once thawed, an enzyme mixture 22 is added to thethawed cartilage 18 which breaks the cartilage down into liquid form atstep 220. Preferably, the enzyme mixture 22 includes a liquid plantderived enzyme 24 such as papain, ficen, or bromalain; a bacterialprotolitic enzyme 26, such as acid, neutral, or alkelian; and a buffer28 such as acetic acid or sodium hydroxide and water for a pH bufferingrange of 4.8 to 6.8. As the enzyme mixture 22 breaks down the cartilage18, the tank is heated to preferably 140° -160° F. such that thecartilage 18 separates into a top layer of fat 30, a middle layer ofliquid digest 32, and a bottom layer of bone chips 34.

Once separated, at step 230, the bone chips 34 are swept away from avalve 36 in the bottom of the tank 20 and the liquid digest 32 is pumpedthrough the valve 36 to a holding tank 38. Once pumped, at step 240, thepH level of the liquid digest 32 is raised by adding sodium hydroxide orpotassium hydroxide 40 to the liquid digest 32 in the holding tank 38.Preferably the pH level of the liquid digest 32 is raised to a level of8 to 11.

At step 250, after the pH level is raised, the liquid digest 32 ispumped into an evaporator 42 where the liquid digest 32 is heated to asolid content of between 10% to 75% such that the liquid has a syrupconsistency. Preferably the liquid digest is heated at a temperature of200°-230° F. to create a solid content of 35-40%.

Next, at step 260, the solid liquid digest 32 is transported to an areafor spray drying 44. Preferably, the solid liquid digest is spray driedusing pulse combustion. Also, a carrier such as multrodextrine is addedto assist in pulling off extra water from the liquid digest 32. Thisresults in a dry powder comprised of Avian collagen.

Once the Avian collagen has been spray dried it is mixed with theunhydrolyzed eggshell membrane collagen at step 270 to create a blendedcollagen mixture that includes Type I, II, III, IV, V and X collagen andLOS. Preferably the mixture has 70% Avian collagen to 30% eggshellmembrane or alternatively 30% Avian collagen to 70% eggshell membranecollagen. Once combined, at step 280, the mixture is packaged anddistributed.

Accordingly, a collagen mixture and method of making the same has beendisclosed that, at the very least, meets all the stated objectives.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of making collagen comprising the stepsof: obtaining sanitized cracked eggshells; separating a membrane fromthe eggshell using a sifter having a fine mesh through which theeggshells fall while retaining the membrane; drying the membrane afterthe membrane is separated from the eggshell; and pulverizing the driedmembrane to form a powder.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the membraneis dried using a motion dryer.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein themembrane is transported to an end of the sifter after it is separatedfrom the eggshell.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein method results inunhydrolyzed eggshell membrane collagen.
 5. The method of claim 1wherein method results in unhydrolyzed eggshell membrane collagen withLOS (lysozyme, ovatransferin and sialic acid).
 6. The method of claim 1wherein the method results in eggshell membrane collagen having Type 1,V and X collagen.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the eggshell membranepowder is Avian collagen.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the eggshellmembrane powder is combined with Type II collagen.